This was a hard book for me to rate and review and I had a different feeling moments after finishing the novel. However, after a few weeks have passed my feelings have changed. I would say this book ended up just being okay for. Nothing really bad about it, but nothing really memorable either. I will say that I have trouble recalling if the basic details about this book weeks after reading it.

I will say that this was a quick read for a fantasy. I read this book in one day (which never happens for me) which can be nice, but I think that was the problem for me. Everything happened super quick in this book which made for little development of characters or relationships. Nothing was really allowed to breath and therefore I was not connected to these characters or stories. As a result, it made it very easy to forget this story weeks later and likely won't continue you with this series.

*****Received an ARC from Netgalley****

Long story short: a decently written YA fantasy with a main character who made a ton of mistakes, but is probably the most human protagonist I've read for a long while. THE WORLD BUILDING IS GORGEOUS!

This book was a book that drew me in through the excerpt that was given in the Buzz Books for the Spring/Summer 2019 and it did not disappoint. I continued to enjoy the story and will look forward to seeing what else this author has in store in future books. Thas was an entertaining novel and an interesting premise.
Thank you for the early release copy.

#Bloodleaf #NetGalley

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley for an honest review.

This started out ok but then it really seemed to stall. Aurelia made some silly decisions and didn't seem to be able to piece together the obvious. The world building was pretty meh and the plot was so painfully obvious I wouldn't have needed to finish the book to figure out what happened.

What a new story! A completely original idea that left me on the edge of my seat. Aurelia was a wonderful MC with a complicated life and was now pushed into an arranged marriage. She was incredibly badass. A lot of exposition was introduced in the first section of the story and it left me a little bored. A lot of worldbuilding needed to be done and while I really enjoyed this world. I was a little exhausted in the beginning. Great characters, an original plot that left me wanting more. I can't wait for the sequel.

Bloodleaf is such an amazing read! The characters were likable and easily invested in. With every turn of the page I just wanted to know more and more. The plot was well executed and kept me entertained and on the edge of my seat the whole time.

The one thing I was really, really impressed with is the world building. I fell in love with this world Smith created in Bloodleaf. The details were so vivid and I could literally see everything play out in my head. I loved it and can't wait to read more from Crystal Smith!

I’ve tried to read this one 4 times now and just can not get into it. The writing is bland and nothing about the story so far is intriguing me. The farthest I made It was 30% and I’ve decided this one just isn’t for me.

Thank you for the copy.

DNF @ 15%

Not being able to get into Bloodleaf really stung. I wanted so badly to love it, but I couldn't find enough interest in the main character nor the story to keep me wanting to turn the pages. It felt very slow and shallow in its pace and character building, and unfortunately I couldn't get into it. I know many others will like it; it just wasn't for me.

I feel like, in this age of gifs, tips, and sped-up cooking videos, it might not be too much to ask for a book like this to have not only a map, but perhaps a brief character guide and some kind of plot summary. This would be useful not only for the millenials and others who get distracted by all of the other glittering, plentiful, and visual content available to them, but also to serious readers who often find themselves reading several books at once, jumping from plot to plot like hobos jumping between moving trains.

Indeed, the plot of Bloodleaf would seem straightforward enough (a disenchanted princess has to flee her home and family because she possesses a magic that everyone fears, is tricked by her would-be protector along the way and abandoned, makes her way to a rival kingdom where she, alone, blending in as a peasant, and able to see ghosts, is able to figure out the plan that "protector" has for taking over not only that kingdom but her home kingdom as well), but is in fact quite complicated. She flees as much because she loves her mother and little brother and doesn't want to see them hurt as she does because she hates the derision she experiences because of her magic. That emotional connection, and the connections she forms with various colorful, helpful, and handsome friends along the way, is what pushes the plot forward more than her desire to figure out what Toris (the "protector") is up to. But those connections are what enable her to gain the strength she needs to eventually confront him, as much as she'd like to stay out of his evil path.

It is interesting that her particular kind of magic enables her to receive the clues that help her solve the riddle of Toris' motives and the even more complicated bramble of actions she needs to take to thwart him. Her magic and the magic system of this book (one that involves weather protection and life-giving thorny flowers) is unique and moody, not unlike that of Callie Bates' The Waking Land, but also, in a way, revealing, for all her efforts to hide it. It is her use of it, and her regard for non-magical characters that reveals the most about who she really is as a person, something she only just discovers herself throughout the book.

Bloodleaf is sophisticated enough for hard-core fantasy or speculative readers, but also emotionally driven and romantically inspired for devoted YA fans.

Bloodleaf had an intriguing premise but ultimately fell short for me. I just couldn't connect with Aurelia. She made some choices that defied belief (like performing magic in front of everyone in the castle instead of demanding the man be taken to a private room). Plus I found the plot the be predictable and not that engaging. While I think many readers will enjoy this one, it just wasn't the right fit for me.

This started out pretty incredibly, and then fell flat. I thought I’d love this hard, but ultimately it became too similar to many fantasy tales in the genre.

I also had issues with the lead character, how she was portrayed, and how her best friend was written.

For now, I had to DNF, but hopefully I can finish it one day.

An exciting enough story, but with certain drawbacks. The plot and many of the characters had a promise, but some of the tropes were too much to make this book truly memorable.

My thanks to NetGalley, Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Children’s Book Group, and Crystal Smith for an ARC in exchange for an honest review. My opinions are 100% my own and independent of receiving an advance copy.

Prepare to enter a beautiful, harsh world where magic is forbidden and to practice the ancient ways means certain death. Princess Aurelia can feel the magic coursing through her veins and to survive a coup for her throne she must escape to the neighbouring city of Achleva and pose as a commoner until she can figure out who is friend or foe. Led by a Harbinger, a terrifying ghost, who leads her along with clues, Aurelia tries to understand and use her magic to help unlock the secrets of both cities. Along the way she falls in love with a man forbidden to her, as she is already promised to someone else. She must put her family and the crown ahead of all her desires. Loosely based on the fairy tale “The Goose Girl”, Crystal Smith’s debut novel is a rich story that will satisfy any fantasy reader.

This world is truly incredible. You have the blend of feudal law, which exacts a strict and often violent penalty for any infraction. You have the political machinations of different factions trying to gain power. There is the royalty structure which has kings and queens and princesses who are promised in marriage to a prince that they don’t even know. The paranormal elements of the ghosts who know too much and want to communicate with the living. Lastly you have the magic, “blood” magic that extracts a cost to those who draw on its power. Smith does an amazing job of combining all of these elements together to create this fantastical world. Inside of this world are colourful characters that come to life. The best treat is a strong female lead who must fend for herself while she is still discovering who she is. To sweep you off your feet is a love story that is like the cherry on top. Gives you all sorts of good feels.

I found that this was a strong addition to what is getting to be a crowded field. I really found myself carried away with the story and had a huge smile at the end. Yup, colour me sucker for a great ending. Can’t wait for the next one in the series!

When you have a book that deals with magical rituals and those rituals involve blood, you’re likely to put off a few readers. I know that I was initially squeamish reading Bloodleaf. I truly considered putting it down, but as I kept reading, Aurelia’s blood-magic became another aspect of her character. The squeamishness subsided. What was left behind was a strong fantasy novel that reads as a standalone, even though it is part of a planned trilogy.

Bloodleaf would not work if not for Aurelia. Her insecurities and talents are nuanced and fresh. Her character develops naturally and her journey is compelling.

Author Crystal Smith’s prose is clean, as is her plotting. Her ability to foreshadow while maintaining mystery is to be commended. I’m looking forward to the next book in this series.

Editor’s note: Due to some of the darker elements throughout Bloodleaf, I recommend it for readers 14 and up.

Bloodleaf is the first book in an exciting and imaginative new fantasy series of the same name by Crystal Smith. It is Smith’s debut, and with it, she has put her own creative spin on the Grimm fairy tale, “The Goose Girl.”

Bloodleaf follows Aurelia, who is the Princess of Renalt, and who is engaged to marry the Prince of Achleva, a young man she has never actually met. Their marriage is designed to serve a political agenda, to unite these two countries and ensure peace across the land.

In addition to being a Princess, however, Aurelia is also a witch who has been hiding her powers from everyone, especially the Tribunal, the ruling body in Renalt, for years. The Tribunal loathes magic and looks for every opportunity to execute a witch. The only way Aurelia can hope to escape the persecution her fellow witches face is to keep her magic hidden at all costs, something that isn’t always easy to do since Aurelia doesn’t really know how to control it yet.

While she is traveling to Achleva to meet her soon-to-be husband, there is an attempted assassination, which exposes Aurelia’s secret. Betrayed by those around her, Aurelia flees her country while an imposter continues on to Achleva to take her place. Unable to return home because everyone now knows she’s a witch and unable to move forward and marry the Prince because of the imposter, Aurelia must forge a new way for herself in the world.

She takes on a new identity, makes new friends, and works to hone her magical abilities. One of her abilities is that she can see and sometimes communicate with spirits, and it is this ability that lands Aurelia right in the middle of a sinister plot to destroy an enchanted wall that protects Achleva. An evil mage is determined to bring the wall down and is leaving a trail of bodies in his wake as he does everything he possibly can to break the spell that is keeping the wall intact.

Can Aurelia perfect her magical abilities in time to stop the deadly mage before even more lives are lost?

Bloodleaf hooked me pretty quickly because it starts on out such a dark and dangerous note, with a public execution. Renalt and the Tribunal definitely gave me Salem Witch Trial vibes with their relentless persecution and rush to judgement of anyone they believed to be a witch.

It also of course made me sympathetic to Aurelia since apparently not even her royal title could prevent her from the possibility of execution were she discovered to be a witch. What really impressed me about Aurelia though was how she rallied after being betrayed and took charge of her own destiny. She didn’t wait around like a damsel in distress, hoping to be saved.

I also liked that Aurelia isn’t flawless by any means. She makes some questionable choices along the way and sometimes makes things harder for herself because of those choices. But she is constantly learning from her mistakes and growing into a very admirable young woman, one who would make a wonderful leader if given the chance. As much as I enjoyed the action of the story, I think Aurelia’s inner journey was equally captivating for me.

In addition to Aurelia, Bloodleaf also features a fantastic cast of supporting characters. They’re not nearly as fleshed out as Aurelia, but I still really enjoyed them all anyway, especially Zan, Nathaniel, and Kate, who become unexpected allies for Aurelia after she is forced to flee everything she has ever known.

I also thought the author wrote a brilliant villain in Toris. I don’t want to give any spoilers away about him, but man, I really loved to hate that guy.

The mythology and the supernatural elements were also very well done and just added so much to the story. Between the spirits that only Aurelia could see and communicate with and their sometimes ominous messages and the almost mystical Stonehenge like vibe that I got every time Aurelia went to the enchanted wall, the book just had such an atmospheric quality.

Overall, I really enjoyed Bloodleaf but I did have a couple of minor issues with it. The first one was that the pacing was a little uneven and dragged just a little at times in the first half. It never bothered me enough that I would have considered quitting the book, but there was just a noticeable lull for me.

I also would have liked a little more memorable worldbuilding when it came specifically to Renalt and Achleva. I didn’t really feel like I came away with a distinct picture of what either of them really looked like.

Even with those couple of minor issues, however, I still thought Bloodleaf was a unique and compelling start to Smith’s debut fantasy series and I look forward to seeing where she takes the story next. I’d recommend it to anyone who enjoys reading fantasy and/or retellings, and also to anyone who enjoys the idea of a fierce princess who is no damsel in distress.

Bloodleaf.

A Retelling.

Witches, Magic, Royals, Murder.

Two Kingdoms. One Arranged Marriage.

And a really big wall.

So……..

…is that it?

Bloodleaf is a retelling of “The Goose Girl” and tracks Princess Aurelia as she is forced to travel from her kingdom of Renalt to the kingdom of Achleva, after she is accused of being a witch. With an arranged marriage set between Aurelia and the sick prince of Achleva, Aurelia moves towards her set future with only duty propelling her forward. But when members of her entourage turn on her and attempt an assassination, Aurelia finds that a girl in her traveling party has taken her place and has entered Achleva disguised as the Princess, with her younger brother, the Prince, in tow. Alone and starving, Aurelia must try to make her way into Achleva to make things right and save her brother. But a run-in with a young man named Zan, and the threat of the wall of Achleva being shattered, Aurelia must decide if she should cower or use her powers to protect.
Bloodleaf isn’t terrible.

I actually found it to be a semi-enjoyable and quick read. But it’s never a good sign when reading a book, that you begin to feel like…you’re just reading a book. Especially when said book is in the fantasy genre and promises magic, witches, poison and bloodshed. When I see “fantasy” next to a book, I know to expect a story and world that I would sell every possession I own to be in. I’m a hopeless dreamer and romantic, so I obviously look for books that will reflect the things that I cannot just physically manifest with a snap of my fingers (i.e. fae, magic, witches, royals, rebellion that actually works).

With that said, Bloodleaf had a ton of great qualities…but the continuous theme of rushed scenes, lax explanations, and a romance that feels rather out of nowhere, has left me feeling rather disappointed. The story started out great, pulling me in with the promise of death and an ever-fascinating, yet depressing, witch hunt. But as the story continues, I am left feeling like there were gaping holes begging to be filled, and several opportunities missed to envelop the reader into this magical world.

Seeing as how this is supposed to be a series, I am left REALLY confused as to why things were skipped over or so hurriedly explained? The author could have taken the time to allow me to connect with the characters and learn about them, rather than just give me a watery reflection of who they are. The plot felt rushed, the villain was overly obvious, and it just left a bland taste in my mouth. This story had SO much potential, but it fell incredibly flat for me and left me annoyed because it only needed some slight tweaking to be AMAZING.
I found Aurelia to be a decent character, but her development was incomplete. She grew up in a kingdom where witches are hunted and magic is kept secret, especially her own. But when she is in Achleva and beginning to use her magic and control it, it seems like one moment she has no handle on it and then the next she just knows what she’s doing.

I kept feeling like she was just materializing into this character the author wanted her to blossom into, without there being any represented moments or time of her doing so. SHOW ME, DON’T TELL ME! She came across as a character who could have developed more and been given a bit more substance, because she just ended up one-dimensional and simplistic. In regards to Zan, he was slightly better off in the creative department, but still didn’t meet the potential of what he could have been. He was witty, charming, sarcastic and slightly arrogant (which I loved), but there also wasn’t enough put into molding his character. ESPECIALLY when it came to the romance between Aurelia and Zan! The relationship made me feel so confused and flustered because of how forced it was. At one point they are just regular ol’ chums, and the next they are madly in love?!?!?! Can I just get a little romance build, please?!

Overall the story started off strong, but it just wasn’t tied together as much as I would have liked. It isn’t a horrible book and I think most of you will enjoy it, but it isn’t up there with ACOTAR or The Folk of the Air books by way of how the story builds and unfolds, or the characters. I would say that this is probably one of those stories you just have to try for yourself, because I think there will be a lot of mixed opinions on it. I just know that for me, Bloodleaf twas a dud.

Bloodleaf by Crystal Smith is the first book of a new young adult fantasy trilogy by the same name. This series is another that is actually a retelling, however, with this one it’s a story I’m not familiar with myself, the Grimm Fairy tale “The Goose Girl” so I went into this one reading it more as an original story myself.

While Princess Aurelia is an heir to the crown in her country she’s always had a quirky personality about her, this comes from Aurelia’s ability to see the ghosts around her. Not only does she keep this ability hidden as much as she can but also her ability to use blood magic as it’s forbidden in her land.

When there is an attempt made upon Aurelia’s life those around her do what they can to protect her and keep her from harm. However, when all else fails Aurelia finds herself separated from her family and friends and on the run away from her kingdom with only the magic she’s hid as protection.

This was actually a nice start to this new series and while it was somewhat slow to take off while building the world I still found myself enjoying it. The world within almost to me had a historical feel to it with innocent women hanged for the suspicion of witchcraft and Aurelia being a princess with servants helping her etc. I can’t say how it does as a retelling but it’s certainly gained my interest on it’s own.

I received an advance copy from the publisher via NetGalley.

I was very excited to read Bloodleaf, and I think the concept of the magic system has merit, but it didn't come together as well as I hoped it would. In parts, there are some fresh ideas, notably the poison/healing power infused in the bloodleaf plant and Princess Aurelia's ability to see spirits of the departed. However, the clichés outnumbered the unique aspects for me personally by the end, and the heroine was a bit more frustrating than I would have liked.

Aurelia lives in a Kingdom divided up into two lands: Achleva and Renalt. As the Princess of Renalt, it has been arranged for her to marry the Prince of Achleva to tie the two sides together after many years of division. A wall has been erected, and only the very few who are able to gain permission are able to cross to the other side. Her pending marriage will bring much needed reconciliation and peace for everyone. Aurelia isn't fired up to get married seeing as her fiancé is reportedly a sickly recluse she's never met. On the other hand, there is civil unrest stirred up by the Tribunal and her safety becomes more tenuous by the day. This is a group that basically seek out people who have any form of magic and execute them as witches. As one who secretly holds one of the three forms of magic, Aurelia can only be shielded for so long before she is taken in.

After an assassination attempt and a hasty escape, Aurelia is forced to somehow make it to Achleva on her own with little more than a horse and the clothes on her back. She's lost all of her allies, her papers to get over the border, and has no money. She's faced desperate moments, difficult decisions, and tragedy. The more the book wears on, the more I started to disconnect from the heroine. While some things were beyond her control (the betrayal and plotting by someone close to her) it seemed as if the majority of bad things happening were a direct result of her poor/rash decision making. It made her seem pretty childish, and I get that her age and experience aren't advanced, but many times her actions weren't the most believable.

When it came to the romance aspect, she started out supposedly secretly in love with someone she'd known her whole life, and then because of one disappointing bad choice on his part she transfers her affection to someone new fairly quickly. The faded blood mark on the magic cloth should have given her a clue as to this person's true fate, and for some odd reason it never occurred to her that she may have been mistaken about what happened to him. That made no sense to me at all. I knew who the new love interest was from the start, and I also knew the twist very early on. It was pretty easy to predict so I'm not sure it could even be called a twist.

The author also modeled the corrupt king of Achleva after a real life person and it doesn't take a genius to figure out who it is. While I get that inspiration can be found in everyday life, the symbolism became so repeated and obvious that it took me out of the actual story. There were some plot points that didn't seem to go anywhere, such as Aurelia's bracelet that had been given significant page time. The gift from her father was mentioned over and over again, and I kept expecting to find out the importance of it, but it never happened. Maybe it will come out in the future, but it felt unresolved and completely unaddressed.

While Bloodleaf wasn't a total miss, unfortunately I didn't see enough to capture my imagination and interest like I had hoped. I've read quite a few YA fantasies with similar themes: outlawed magic, persecuted people who are gifted with it, princess on the run, betrayal to steal the throne, forbidden romance. The end was left in a happy for now place, so the lack of suspenseful cliffhanger was definitely a big plus. If you're looking for a new fantasy series that won't leave you hanging too painfully this could be the one for you.

With an intriguing premise and a lovely cover, this debut YA Fantasy novel is hard to pass by! Slated as the first book in a trilogy, this is an enjoyable read. It does start a bit slowly – well, there’s plenty of action (the first scene takes place during a public execution!), but Smith jams in a lot of world-building up front. This leads to a few clunky sections of pure information dumping, unfortunately. But, but the middle of the book, the pacing smooths out and the book really gets a lot better!

Aurelia, our heroine and narrator, has her moments where she isn’t always the most sympathetic, but despite her contradictory actions, she grows on you as the book progresses. The plot, though exciting, follows predictable paths. The enemies are easy to see coming, so there are no real surprises to the reader. The secrets are equally easy to see through. Still, it’s fun to be right – though, hopefully the sequel will have a few more twists or surprises.

All in all, this is an age-appropriate YA Fantasy novel (the violence is a bit high, but otherwise this would be okay for the younger end of the audience). There is a little set up for the sequel, but this is a satisfying read in its own right (no cliffhangers). I all in all did like it, and definitely plan on continuing on with the rest of the trilogy once the books are out!

Received an ARC from NetGalley.

I really enjoyed this book! The beginning focused on world building, which was slow at times, but I could not put the second half down. The main character uses blood magic and I feel the author did a great job showing the dichotomy between using what is seen as dark magic and MCs actions. The MC can use her magic while still trying to be a decent person and not abuse her powers. This book also dealt with friendship and family bonds to show that not everything is not always black or white, there are a lot of grey areas. I did find some of the plot predictable, but it did not detract from the story itself. I can't wait to see how the author continues to build this world and magic system in the sequel.